Systems, methods and devices for monitoring gaming tables

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to systems, methods and devices for monitoring table activities at gaming tables in casinos and other gaming establishments. For example, embodiments described herein relate to systems, methods and devices for monitoring card game activities at gaming tables and transfers of chips between one or more players and a dealer. Embodiments described herein may include devices and systems particularly configured to monitor table activities that include betting activities and the transfer of chips (e.g. between a player and a dealer, or between a first player and a second player) at gaming tables to determine bet data including a number of chips in a betting area of the gaming table, a total value of chips in the betting area, the number of chips in a chip tray, a total value of chips in the chip tray, and so on.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tray for monitoring chips in the tray, the tray comprising:
 a body defining a channel for receiving the chips, the channel having a first end; 
 a tray imaging component mounted at the first end of the channel, the tray imaging component configured to capture image data associated with presence of chips in the channel, the tray imaging component including a time of flight sensor positioned in the channel and mounted at the first end of the channel for emitting an initial electromagnetic signal in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel and detecting a reflected electromagnetic signal corresponding to the initial electromagnetic signal operating in conjunction with an optic sensor mounted axially to the base of the channel, the optic sensor configured to capture image data corresponding to the side surfaces of the chips having a particular axial strip of colors, the tray imaging component configured to capture image data associated with presence of chips in the channel; 
 one or more sensors responsive to an activation event to trigger capture of the image data by the tray imaging component; 
 a processor coupled to the tray imaging component and the one or more sensors; and 
 a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to determine an amount of chips received in the tray, based on a depth of the chips in the channel determined from a time difference between when the initial electromagnetic signal was emitted and when the reflected electromagnetic signal was detected, and to determine a type of the chips received in the tray based on the image data corresponding to the side surfaces of the chips; 
 wherein the optic sensor includes a radiation emitter that is controllable to illuminate only a portion of the emitter is activated based upon the information from the time of flight sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the time of flight sensor emits laser radiation to the chips that is reflected back to the time of flight sensors. 
     
     
       3. The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the activation event is associated with an electromagnetic signal reflected from a non-planar surface. 
     
     
       4. The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel allows for an offset angle for capture to increase a total number of pixels available for capture. 
     
     
       5. The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the emitted electromagnetic signal is incident on a chip at an angle that is substantially 90 degrees to a surface of the chip. 
     
     
       6. The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the time of flight sensor includes a laser emitter. 
     
     
       7. The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray imaging component comprises a camera mounted at the first end of the channel for detecting the image data corresponding to chips received in the channel. 
     
     
       8. The tray of  claim 7 , wherein the body includes a plurality of channels configured to receive chips, and wherein the camera includes a field of view associated with two or more of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
       9. The tray of  claim 7 , wherein instructions, when executed, configure the processor to determine a denomination of at least one chip received within the channel based on the image data. 
     
     
       10. The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the channel includes an elongate aperture extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel, and wherein the optic sensor is mounted adjacent the elongate aperture and configured to detect presence of the chips received in the channel. 
     
     
       11. The tray of  claim 10 , wherein the optic sensor comprises at least one of a charged couple device (CCD) sensor, or an infrared light emitter/detector. 
     
     
       12. The tray of  claim 10 , wherein the optic sensor comprises an image capture device configured to capture, via the elongate aperture, image data for determining at least one of the amount of chips within the channel or a denomination of at least one chip within the channel based on at least one of a color or stripe pattern. 
     
     
       13. The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the activation event is associated with at least one of an activation signal associated with a push button, an activation signal associated with a touch screen display button, or an activation signal received at the chip tray from a game monitoring server. 
     
     
       14. A chip tray comprising:
 a body defining a channel for receiving at least one betting chip, the channel comprising an elongate aperture extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel; 
 a tray imaging component mounted adjacent the elongate aperture and configured to detect presence of betting chips within the channel, the tray imaging component including a time of flight sensor positioned in the channel and mounted at the first end of the channel for emitting an initial electromagnetic signal in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel and detecting a reflected electromagnetic signal corresponding to the initial electromagnetic signal operating in conjunction with an optic sensor mounted axially to the base of the channel, the optic sensor configured to capture image data corresponding to the side surfaces of the chips having a particular axial strip of colors, the tray imaging component configured to capture image data associated with presence of chips in the channel; 
 a processor coupled to the tray imaging component; and 
 a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to determine chip quantity within the channel based on tray imaging component data, based on a depth of the chips in the channel determined from a time difference between when the initial electromagnetic signal was emitted and when the reflected electromagnetic signal was detected, and to determine a type of the chips received in the tray based on the image data corresponding to the side surfaces of the chips; 
 wherein the optic sensor includes a radiation emitter that is controllable to illuminate only a portion of the emitter is activated based upon the information from the time of flight sensor. 
 
     
     
       15. The chip tray of  claim 14 , wherein the tray imaging component comprises an optic sensor is a flat bed sensor mounted at a base of the channel such that the optic sensor is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel. 
     
     
       16. The chip tray of  claim 14 , wherein the time of flight sensor emits laser radiation to the chips that is reflected back to the time of flight sensors. 
     
     
       17. The chip tray of  claim 14 , wherein the direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel allows for an offset angle for capture to increase a total number of pixels available for capture. 
     
     
       18. The chip tray of  claim 14 , wherein the optic sensor is an elongate emitter extending parallel the elongate aperture, and wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the processor to:
 determine, based on time of flight data, that the portion of the channel is occupied with betting chips; and 
 activate a subset portion of the elongate emitter corresponding to the portion of the channel occupied with betting chips. 
 
     
     
       19. The chip tray of  claim 18 , wherein the activation event is associated with at least one of an activation signal associated with a push button, an activation signal associated with a touch screen display button, or an activation signal received from a game monitoring server. 
     
     
       20. The chip tray of  claim 14 , wherein the tray imaging component includes an image capture device configured to capture, through the elongate aperture, image data for determining at least one of a quantity of betting chips within the channel or a denomination of at least one betting chip within the channel based on at least one of a color or a stripe pattern.